Part I — Midnight Negotiations
Later that night—
Derpy stood outside the Queen’s chamber.
Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, Mk4 behind him.
The collar rested cold against his throat.
“I need the gate opened,” he said quietly.
“For my friends.”
Mk3 watched him closely.
“You would request that?”
“Yes.”
Mk2 stepped forward slightly.
“We will stand with you.”
Mk1 nodded.
“Friend not alone.”
Mk4’s voice was steady.
“You are central variable.”
Derpy exhaled slowly.
“I just want them safe.”
He raised his hand.
And knocked.
Inside—
Vaeloria turned toward the door.
And the political war was about to become personal.
Part II — The Queen’s Room
Vaeloria turned toward the doors of her chambers.
“Enter.”
Her voice was smooth.
Controlled.
She was adjusting the tie of her emerald night robe—silk falling just to her knees, the fabric wrapped tight and modest.
Nothing improper.
Nothing careless.
The doors opened.
Mk1 bounced in first.
Mk2 followed, posture straighter now with her newly repaired arm.
Mk3 stepped inside like a blade drawn but not yet swung.
Mk4 entered last—centered, composed.
And behind them—
Derpy.
Vaeloria blinked.
Then, seeing no attendants in the room, she placed a hand lightly to her cheek and gasped dramatically.
“Eeeee~ intruders,” she said in mock alarm.
She stepped back to her bed and flopped onto it, pulling the blanket up theatrically.
“What ever shall I do?”
Derpy blinked.
He blushed instantly.
Vaeloria peeked over the blanket.
“What can I do for you, Derpy?” she asked, playful but watching him closely. “You are quite bold… especially wearing that collar.”
She giggled lightly.
Derpy did not.
“I want to talk to you about the war you and your husband are starting.”
The temperature in the room dropped.
Vaeloria felt it immediately.
That chill wasn’t hers.
She slowly sat up.
The blanket slipped down.
The playfulness disappeared.
She cleared her throat.
The Queen was back.
“You want my help?” she asked evenly.
“Yes.”
Vaeloria studied him.
“Continue.”
Derpy swallowed.
“I will stand with you. But I can’t do that while my friends are stranded.”
Her eyes sharpened.
“They are not within my domain,” she replied. “Reports indicate the Stitchborne series used a restricted teleport circle.”
“They’re at the final stitched gate,” Derpy said. “They’ve been pursuing me since I was taken.”
He exhaled slowly.
“My pets are with them.”
A flicker in Vaeloria’s gaze.
“And how,” she asked quietly, stepping off the bed, “do I know this isn’t an escape attempt?”
She walked toward him.
Bare feet on cold marble.
Close enough to feel his heat.
Derpy sighed.
His heartbeat began to spike.
The shift came instinctively—
Dragon wings folded.
Wolf ears formed.
One red.
One blue.
A braided red-and-blue tail settled behind him.
He sat in a nearby chair and slowly scooted closer to her bedside.
“I will remain here,” he said.
“If you send the Stitchborne to retrieve them.”
Vaeloria tilted her head.
“And what prevents your friends from causing chaos inside my capital?”
“They will wear your collars.”
The room went quiet.
The dolls all looked at him.
Mk1’s head tilted.
Mk2 stiffened slightly.
Mk3 narrowed her eyes.
Mk4 did not react.
Derpy turned toward them.
“Mk1. Mk2. Mk3.”
“Yes,” they responded in unison.
“I want you to treat them the way you’ve treated me.”
A pause.
“Kind. Patient. They’re my friends.”
Mk1 nodded immediately.
Mk2 after a half-second.
Mk3 hesitated.
Then nodded once.
Mk4 stepped forward.
“It will be done.”
She turned and motioned the others.
The dolls exited.
Vaeloria’s attention returned to Derpy.
She stepped close again.
Very close.
Her hands reached up—
And gently buried into his red-and-blue fur.
She squeaked.
“Oh my stars, you are soft.”
She ran her fingers behind his wolf ears.
Then down the back of his neck.
Each touch made Derpy tense.
His breathing grew uneven.
She leaned closer.
“You truly are fascinating,” she murmured.
The scent of her perfume—cool frost and jasmine—hit him all at once.
He swallowed.
Part III — Lieam Interrupts
In the doorway—
Lieam entered.
Princess Lieam.
Sister to Lirael and Sylara.
“Mother, the Stitch series is—”
She stopped.
“…Mother?”
Vaeloria turned slightly, still holding Derpy.
“Come here, Lieam. Feel this fur.”
Derpy thought inward desperately.
Celica.
Blight.
I don’t know how much longer I can take this.
Blight’s voice hummed softly.
I can relay your message to Lewd.
But I want something in return.
What?
I want dual ownership.
You and Lewd.
Being with you… is far more interesting than stagnating.
Derpy blinked internally.
Fine.
But she needs to know.
Agreed.
Vaeloria pulled him closer into a soft embrace.
His face pressed lightly against her shoulder.
The warmth.
The closeness.
The intimacy.
Steam burst lightly off his skin.
And—
He fainted.
Part IV — Scene Shift: The Final Gate
Lenora paced violently near the cliff edge.
“I can’t do this. I can’t just wait—”
She broke into a run.
Ace caught her by the back of her armor.
Lenora hit the ground with a grunt.
“Ow!”
Ace didn’t smirk this time.
Her expression was sharp.
“Running blindly into a closed imperial gate is not strategy.”
Lewd suddenly froze.
Blight’s voice reached her mind.
She covered her mouth.
“He did it,” she whispered.
Lenora turned.
“What?”
“He convinced the queen.”
A pause.
“There’s a cost.”
Ace’s eyes narrowed.
“Of course there is.”
The stitched circle flared.
Mk1 burst through first.
“Friend!”
She tackled Ace in an awkward hug.
Ace stiffened.
“…I do not understand this greeting.”
Mk2 stepped through next.
“It is pleasant to meet you. Friends of Derpy.”
Mk3 entered.
“There are conditions.”
Mk4 stepped through last.
Elegant.
Composed.
“You will be issued collars.”
She tossed them forward.
One for Lenora.
One for Lewd.
Two for Ace.
Ace caught them mid-air.
Examined them calmly.
Lenora and Lewd exchanged looks.
“We won’t cause trouble,” they said together.
Ace slipped both collars on without hesitation.
“I won’t either.”
She stepped forward.
“But if anyone tries something—”
Her eyes gleamed.
“They won’t get a second attempt.”
Mk4 nodded.
“Follow.”
They stepped through the portal.
The Elven Empire opened before them.
Part V — Final Beat: The Queen’s Chamber
Derpy stirred.
Vaeloria sat beside him.
Still composed.
Still calculating.
The door opened again.
Mk4 entered first.
Behind her—
Lenora.
Lewd.
Ace.
Mia barked.
Sphinx’s tail flicked sharply.
Derpy blinked awake.
And the political board shifted once more.